Business Times poll on the presidential poll reflects optimism, freedom and hope
View(s):You could sense it on the streets, in workplaces, in malls or street corners in Colombo: The sign of relief with the entry of a new president promising freedom as a core value.
This was also abundantly clear by the virtually unending email flow of responses on Friday when the Business Times(BT) sent out a quick opinion poll seeking views on the ascent of a new President and a possible end to the scourge of corruption and an improvement in the rule of law.
High scorers were the questions on whether there would be a reduction in corruption, in which 78.5 per cent of the respondents said YES and 16 per cent were UNDECIDED.
On whether a new president would ensure an improvement in the rule of law, 83.8 per cent of the respondents said YES while 13 per cent were UNDECIDED.
On the other two questions, 70 per cent agreed that the life of Sri Lankans would improve with Maithripala Sirisena being elected President while 66.6 per cent believed the economy would improve with a new president installed while 18.3 per cent were undecided.
The enthusiasm of the email poll ran parallel to the mood of many urban Sri Lankans on Friday as the election results trickled in and later flowed leading to the main opposition candidate Sirisena winning the poll by little over 52 per cent of the vote. Many city workers in Colombo that the Business Times spoke to expressed a new optimism and a sense of freedom and relief in the entry of a new president.
“There seems to be a sense of relief. I just can’t explain the feeling. It’s just like the nip in the air and a chilly feeling ahead of Christmas,” said one office worker.
The BT opinion poll was sent out on Friday morning when trends showed Mr. Sirisena would end up the winner and just as President Mahinda Rajapaksa departed from his official residence conceding defeat. Responses, unlike in the BT’s previous polls, came in just a few minutes after it was sent and were flowing in well into the night on Friday and Saturday morning. There were more than 500 responses to the poll from respondents who came from all walks of life.
Among the comments received in addition to the responses to the poll were:
On life improving:
- Yes in the medium term.
- One would hope this happens.
- I would like to see a return to a parliamentary system as fast as possible.
- If the new Maithri government buckles down to work, the living standards of the commoner will improve,
- If the question of reconciliation is additionally addressed by the new Government, hopefully the country could achieve the ‘peace’, that is desired.
On improving the economy:
- An anticipated reduction in corruption will help the economy to improve.
- Unlikely to happen as coalition governments often spell doom and uncertainty.
- The economy will stagnate for some time but after that it will improve.
- Definitely an improvement. This could take time though, since what has happened (negative growth) has happened and cannot be fully reversed. What is done is done. Steps would have to be taken to address unnecessary expenditure and cost escalations arising from corrupt deals.
On eliminating corruption:
- While it is unlikely that corruption can ever be completely eradicated, it was taken to new levels by the previous regime.
- There will be some degree of reduction in corruption since the family (Rajapaksas) would no longer be involved.
On improving the rule of law:
- Yes, I envisage a significant improvement.
- This is most likely to happen but very slowly as most institutions have eroded over the years.
- I see some positive signs in the rule of law getting back on track. If the IGP could do what he did (admirably well) during the elections, albeit with the support of the Election Commission, then he should be able to at least discipline his own men and improve the rule of law.
- There was no law and order in the last six months in particular but the signs – in a positive sense – seem to be improving.
General views:
- I feel I’m living once again in an independent community with freedom in the air after the election was over… not having to keep my head down out in shame against the tribalism some sections of the community have occasionally displayed before.
- If the new President sticks to his 100- day programme, the promised reduction in the cost of fuel itself would lead to prices falling in a number of essential goods.